Hyper Japan is always full of surprises, but THE SIXTH LIE never needed one. The Japanese rock band walked on stage, played the first song and straight away had the audience with them. Whether fans knew every lyric or had only discovered them through anime, everyone seemed equally caught up in the performance. While the…
Tag: writing
HYPER JAPAN 2026 – Inside avantgardey: Dance Phenomenon Takes the World Stage – Interview
Until you see avantgardey live, it’s difficult to understand why they’ve become such a phenomenon. Watching the seven members – out of sixteen – perform at Hyper Japan in London, I kept trying to pick out one dancer to follow. It lasted only a few seconds before my attention shifted back to the group. Every…
PSYCHIC FEVER on “DIFFERENT”, Songwriting and Their Global Rise – Exclusive Interview
There comes a point in every group’s career where they stop trying to prove themselves and simply start making the music they want to make. For PSYCHIC FEVER from EXILE TRIBE, that moment comes with DIFFERENT. Their second studio album doesn’t stick to one genre or one formula, and that’s exactly the point. Moving between…
HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 Returns to London with Three Days of Japanese Culture, Music and Entertainment
London is set to become the centre of Japanese culture once again as HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026 returns to Olympia Events, London (Hammersmith Road, W14 8UX) from Friday 24 July to Sunday 26 July 2026. Running over three days, the festival is the UK’s largest celebration of Japanese culture, bringing together live music, anime, gaming,…
OMEGA X On Reuniting With “UNCAPPED” – Exclusive Interview
Dark, sexy, and possessing something a little more than the average K-pop boy group, OMEGA X are finally back with UNCAPPED: seemingly unleashing everything they hadn’t already. They’re currently a prime seven; after Hwichan, Sebin and Kevin’s return to activity, the boys clearly wanted to come back with a bang. The titular track features afrobeats,…
TRENDZ Talks Four Years Together, Sixth Single Album “On My Knees”, and What’s Next – Exclusive Interview
“We prepared this album as though it could be our last,” says YOONWOO. It is a sentence that says everything about where TRENDZ are today. Four years after their debut, the seven-member group continues to move forward with the same determination that first introduced them to fans, but with an even deeper sense of purpose….
PSYCHIC FEVER Show a New Side on “DIFFERENT”, Their Second Studio Album
J-pop has never been more diverse, and PSYCHIC FEVER are one of the groups helping to push it in new directions. Combining R&B, hip-hop, pop and dance music, the seven-member group has built a sound that doesn’t fit neatly into one category. Now, following the success of Just Like Dat featuring JP THE WAVY, they…
Yuki Chiba Live in London: A Japanese Hip-Hop Sensation – Concert Review
Japanese hip-hop found its voice through pioneers like Seiko Ito, whose 1989 album Mess/Age is widely regarded as the first game-changing Japanese rap record. Alongside Hiroshi Fujiwara and Kan Takagi, who helped introduce hip-hop to Japan’s airwaves and underground scene, they laid the foundations for a movement that was later propelled into the mainstream by…
BST HYDE PARK 2026: Pedro Santos on Finding Himself Through Music – Exclusive Interview
We met Pedro Santos shortly after his performance on BST Hyde Park’s Rainbow Stage and found a quiet spot in one of the festival’s shaded chill-out areas. Relaxed, smiling and still energised from the set he had just played, the British-Portuguese singer-songwriter reflected on performing at one of London’s biggest festivals, the emotional honesty behind…
BST HYDE PARK 2026: Maroon 5 Still Know How to Put on a Show – Concert Review
Maroon 5 have always been one of those bands that seem to have been around forever, soundtracking different phases of pop-rock culture without ever really asking for too much attention. They started out as a group of school friends in Los Angeles, originally called Kara’s Flowers, writing scrappy indie-rock songs long before anyone knew what…
BST HYDE PARK 2026: Nineteen Years On, the Songs Still Remain – OneRepublic Live in London – Concert Review
As someone who has spent almost half of her life listening to OneRepublic, following their journey from the early days of Dreaming Out Loud to their latest releases, and having seen them perform several times over the years, writing about their BST Hyde Park set was surprisingly emotional. After last year’s show in London, which…
“Dog Day Evening” (2026) Review: Absurdity of Ordinary Desperation
Dog Day Evening (2026) was released nationwide immediately after its premiere at the Shanghai International Film Festival’s Asian New Talent section. It is director Mak Tin Shu’s directorial debut. Although a “new talent” as a director, Mak was not really new or fresh to the Hong Kong film industry. His scripts for Trivisa (2016) and…
JIB DREAM FANMEET 7 Brings Together Leading Thai BL Stars in Rome This August
The JIB DREAM FANMEET 7 is set to return to Rome on 29-30 August 2026, bringing together some of the most popular names in Thai Boys’ Love (BL) television. Hosted at the Hilton Rome Airport Hotel in Fiumicino, the event continues what has become one of Europe’s most recognisable fanmeet series dedicated to Thai entertainment…
BST Hyde Park 2026: From Midnight Til Morning to FLO and Bazzi, A Celebration of Live Music – Concert Review
British Summer Time at Hyde Park has long been a festival that rewards discovery as much as it celebrates established stars. This year’s line-up presented precisely that, delivering a wonderful mix of emerging talent, global pop stars and K-pop royalty. From the fresh-faced harmonies of American-Australian boy group Midnight Til Morning, the superb British R&B…
VIEW OF THE ARTS 